Prostitution sting nets teacher, sheriff's employee

Douglas Grant was arrested Jan. 11 for soliciting prostitution during a multi-agency sting.

Douglas Grant was arrested Jan. 11 for soliciting prostitution during a multi-agency sting.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Douglas Grant was arrested Jan. 11 for soliciting prostitution during a multi-agency sting.

Douglas Grant was arrested Jan. 11 for soliciting prostitution during a multi-agency sting.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

Prostitution sting nets teacher, sheriff's employee

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A multi-agency prostitution sting conducted earlier this month on behalf of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month has netted the arrests of a middle school teacher, an on-duty EMT seeking sex with a minor and a sheriff's office receptionist, officials announced Tuesday.

In all, 46 arrest warrants were issued — most for misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution — on Jan. 11 as a result of Operation Blue Ice, Sheriff Susan Pamerleau said at a news conference.

Deputies spent nine hours posing as prostitutes in a South Side area known for such activity.

They also lured customers through websites such as Backpage.com and posed as “johns” to issue arrest warrants for five women alleged to have posted sex ads.

Northside Independent School District officials immediately placed Grant on administrative leave and opened an investigation with its human resources department, district spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said Tuesday.

Ortiz, who worked the front desk at the sheriff's office, “is no longer with us,” Pamerleau said.

EMT Christopher Bednarz, 32, was charged with attempted trafficking of a minor.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, also attended Tuesday's news conference to discuss human trafficking initiatives she intends to propose this year in the Texas Legislature.

Among them is a bill that would pave the way for victims of human trafficking to sue websites that make money off prostitution ads, she said.

“This is one of the worst crimes that exists,” she said.

“There's one group of people (who) I want to make their life miserable. That's human traffickers.”